SUDAN’s RAPID SUPPORT FORCES AND ALLIES SIGN CHARTER TO FORM PEACE GOVERNMENT.
BY NJOKI KARANJA.
Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and allied political and armed groups have signed a charter to establish a new government aimed at bringing peace and unity to the war-torn nation. The agreement, signed late Saturday in Nairobi, marks a significant step towards ending the conflict that has ravaged Sudan for nearly two years.
Delegates affiliated to Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF) display signed political charter for the Sudanese Peace Government in Nairobi.
According to key signatories, including al-Hadi Idris and Ibrahim al-Mirghani, the new government will be structured with three levels of governance: a Sovereignty Council, a Council of Ministers, and a legislative body representing all sectors of the Sudanese population. The official announcement of the new government is expected to take place within Sudan in the coming days.
Among the influential figures endorsing the charter is Abdelaziz al-Hilu, a powerful rebel leader who controls vast territories in South Kordofan state. Al-Hilu has long advocated for Sudan to embrace secularism as part of its political transformation. The coalition asserts that its aim is not to divide the country but to unify it and end the devastating war, an objective it claims the current army-aligned government in Port Sudan has failed to achieve.
The conflict, which erupted following a 2021 coup, has plunged Sudan into an unprecedented humanitarian crisis, with half of its population facing severe hunger and famine in multiple areas. The RSF, led by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, has been accused of widespread abuses, including genocide. Dagalo, previously a key player in Sudan’s transitional government following the ouster of Omar al-Bashir in 2019, was sanctioned by the United States earlier this year.
The Sudanese government, operating from Port Sudan, has accused the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of militarily and financially backing the RSF, claims that have been supported by U.N. experts and U.S. lawmakers. However, the UAE has denied any involvement.
Kenya’s Role in Mediation Efforts
Kenya’s decision to host the RSF and its allies has drawn criticism from Sudan’s government, which labeled the move an “act of hostility.” However, Kenya has remained steadfast in its position, asserting that it is providing a neutral platform for peace talks.
Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, Musalia Mudavadi, defended Kenya’s involvement, citing the country’s long-standing role in conflict mediation across Africa. “When Kenya offers this space, it is without any ulterior motives. Our commitment is to support Sudanese-led efforts towards stability,” Mudavadi stated.
He pointed to Kenya’s past successes in peace negotiations, including the Machakos Protocol of 2002, which played a key role in ending Sudan’s second civil war. “Kenya has a long history of providing platforms for peace negotiations without taking sides,” he added, emphasizing that the country will continue working with regional bodies like the African Union (AU) and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) to foster peace in Sudan.
The RSF and its allies have been in Nairobi since Monday, deliberating on the formation of a transitional government. RSF Deputy Commander Abdel-Rahim Hamdan Dagalo led the Sudanese delegation at the government-owned Kenyatta International Conference Center. The group is expected to make a significant announcement on Friday regarding its proposed leadership structure and roadmap for governance.
As regional and international pressure mounts for a resolution to Sudan’s crisis, the signing of the charter in Nairobi signals a new chapter in the country’s turbulent political landscape. While Sudan’s official government has condemned the development, RSF leaders remain optimistic that the agreement will pave the way for lasting peace and stability.
